Thursday, February 7, 2013

Fuller's ESB Tasting

As part of my flavor research into British beers, I am tasting the standard ESB from England, Fuller's ESB.

Background -

I have had Fuller's ESB many times, if it is on draft at a pub it will be my first choice. In my past I've spent a lot of time traveling for business. This gave me plenty of opportunity to try out English-style pubs, and Fuller's ESB is at the top of my list for beers you can find in your typical American version of an English pub.

Fuller's ESB

I remembered Fuller's as being incredibly malty, and I was worried about a repeat of my barleywine tasting from the evening before. Luckily my memory had failed me, and Fuller's was much more balanced than I remembered.

Aroma -

The aroma in my sample was fairly subdued. I detected a pleasant, estery apple note. Not at all like the green apple aroma from Acetaldehyde.

Appearance -

A brilliant combination of orange and caramel tones. I had a relatively thin head during the initial pour, but lacing remained throughout the tasting session.

Body and Texture -

This was nicely balanced between bitterness and malt. The bitterness is more on the back-end of the drink, and is not dominant as in American Pale Ales. The initial impression is of a clean, balanced flavor slightly tilted towards the malt.

Fuller's ESB didn't overwhelm, either in bitterness, or in maltiness. Very drinkable, and a perfect beer when you plan to have a few. This sample actually felt somewhat thinner in mouthfeel than what I remembered from previous sessions. I actually preferred this over what I remembered.

Aftertaste -

The aftertaste was a mellow bitter, that persisted in the back of the throat. The bitter aftertaste did not overpower, and served to make me want to have another drink.

Overall Impressions -

This is a great example of a British ESB. If it is on tap I highly recommend it. I look froward to comparing my other British beers against it, and seeing if any can match up.

This beer gets an B+ from me. This is one of my favorite beers. If I am in the mood to have a few pints, there are few beers that can top Fuller's ESB.